All posts by Bryan Ching

Kinton Ramen was a pretty good experience. I have to say, as I have lived in Vancouver for so long, I have been really blessed with good ramen here. It was decent, and I probably would have it on a semi-regular basis if I lived in Toronto. Worth checking out!

Seattle, WAWhat you’re getting: Old-school shoyu ramenSix days a week, Tsukushinbo serves up some of the best sushi in Seattle, and on the seventh day they do the opposite of rest — they ladle out perhaps the hardest-to-get ramen on this list. The broth of their old-school shoyu ramen takes four days to make, so they can only cook enough to feed a few dozen hungry fanatics on Friday afternoons. Wash it down with a side of crispy gyoza dumplings. – Thrillist

New York, NYWhat you’re getting: Tondaku Green CurryThe second-generation Japanese-American chef at Bassanova was such a ramen geek that he made a pilgrimage to Japan to learn the craft, only to return to the States to post up in NYC’s Chinatown and supply the Big Apple’s noodle-fiends with one of the country’s most unique slurpables: the Tondaku Green Curry, a fiery Thai-inspired broth that’s simmered for 12 hours — and makes the perfect complement to caramelized slices of Berkshire pork. – Thrillist

Portland, ORWhat you’re getting: House hybrid ramen broth with smoked pork shoulderIt’s easy to look past Biwa with Portland’s wealth of ramen options. And also because they don’t have a sign. But after seven years, the city’s trailblazing ramen-ya is still ladling out the best ramen in town from the basement of an old church. The hybrid pork/chicken/tare broth is a solid defense against Portland’s relentlessly grey climate, and a ton of other izakaya and sushi options have you covered in the warmer months. – Thrillist

Brooklyn, NYWhat you’re getting: Kimchi ramenIppudo and Momofuku might’ve started NYC’s ramen craze, but Chuko is one of a new class of slurpers that deserves serious praise. The brainchild of three Morimoto expats, this austere Prospect Heights noodle nook has been slinging some of the city’s best ramen since their opening in 2011. The veggie broth is surprisingly flavorful thanks to a healthy dose of natural MSG via seaweed, but the kimchi is the standout. For dessert, walk down the block to one of the 21 best ice cream shops in the nation, Ample Hills. – Thrillist

What you’re getting: Tonkotsu ramenDaikokuya is perhaps LA’s most beloved ramen shop — there’s a line outside the nondescript Little Tokyo door most times of most days. Neophyte competitors have come in and made LA a ramen town, but this OG stands tall, thanks to a slow-cooked tonkotsu broth that somehow still manages to be silky rather than over-rich, and a rustic, traditional feel that transports you to Japan from the moment your name is called and you sit down at the ramen bar, feeling the steamy heat and getting ready to open your mouth — and your veins — to classic, salty goodness. – Thrillist

What you’re getting: TsukemenThis LA institution consistently takes top honors in local polls for its housemade curly noodles and an exciting atmosphere that splits the difference between welcoming and exclusive. It’s open until midnight, but expect a wait, made much more pleasant by a BYOB patio and neighboring Asian outposts hawking snacks like chicken lollipops. The move is the tsukemen, a bowl of fresh noodles accompanied by a concentrated dose of broth that will make your eyes roll back in your head. – Thrillist

What you’re getting: Roasted chicken shoyu ramen
All the ramen joints on this list encourage slurping, but there’s only one that wears their slurp on their sleeve. With a Michelin star to his name thanks to his eponymous fusion spot (whose Sunday ramen nights are quite popular in their own right), Chef Takashi opened Slurping Turtle and quickly catapulted to the top of Chicago’s tonkotsu ranks. His traditional pork broth is the jam, but for a more unique offering, go with the roasted chicken shoyu featuring homemade noodles topped with poached egg, scallions, bok choy, and bamboo shoots. – Thrillist